I held her hand tight, and I wasn’t ever letting go. I brushed my thumb against her callused hand. We were pushed up against a brick wall, my body covering hers. Tears escaped her beautiful brown eyes and trickled their way down her freckled face. I wondered how it is that she can look so breathtaking even through the midst of horror.

Another shot boomed in the distance and Jocey flinched behind me, clamping her free hand over her mouth.

This was our life now, constantly running from the government we had fled only days ago. Our home country is at war right now and is forcing any male or female citizen to enlist. But my Jocelyn is with child, though they didn’t seem to care. So we ran and ended up in the middle of a bombing just outside the borders of our country.

“Benny I’m scared,” Jocey whimpered.

“I know baby I know,” I squeezed her hand tighter,” everything’s going to be okay, i promise.”

Another boom in the distance and a scream escaped Jocelyn’s mouth.

“Shhhhh,” I whispered and clamped a hand over quivering mouth.

And suddenly, footsteps, lots of them. My eyes widened and clamped the hand against Joceys mouth tighter. The footsteps grew closer and closer, we could hear men shouting,” we know your up here!”. I could hear our inevitable doom inching towards us.

I looks back at Jocey,”Run,” is all i said.

“No Benny i’m not leaving you!,” she sobbed,” Benny please, we’ll figure it out, we’ll be fine.”

“Run until you can’t hear gunshots anymore, run until you can’t see smoke, you need to stay safe and protect our little boy. I’ll be okay, I love tou, I’ll find you.”I didn’t promise this, I knew there was a chance I would not be returning back to her and my unborn son.

She shook her head and looked at me, her eyes filled with terror. I slid my hand out of hers and kissed each finger before letting her hand fall to her side.

I stood up and mouthed ‘run’ before running off and waving my hands, i made as much noise as possible to deflect the attention away from my wife.

“I am here,” I spoke.

I was interrupted by two large men pushing me to the floor and demanding me to put my hands behind my back. They hauled me down the street and shoved me into the back of a livestock trailer.

I looked out at the place I was leaving behind, the family i was leaving behind. I prayed to the heavens above that Jocelyn would be safe. She is my everything, she is my rock, my foundation. She is my star, she is my only reason for walking this Earth. I need her to be safe. I need my son to be safe. I need them to live.

I felt a blow to my head and then the world went dark.